International Postage Meter Stamp Catalog/East African Community

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East African Community[edit | edit source]

The East African Community started as a group of British colonies whose postal affairs were administered by the British East African Postal Administration. Included were Kenya, Uganda, and Tanganyika from 1931 to 1961/63. Another British colony, Zanzibar, was adjacent but not part of the Postal Administration. In 1961 Tanganyika gained its independence and merged with Zanzibar to become the new country of Tanzania. Kenya and Uganda also gained their independence around this time. For years after independence the three countries continued to manage their postal affairs communally and stamps marked with all three country names were used. Eventually the three began to issue stamps with only their own name, but both kinds of stamps — one-country name and three-country names — were used in tandem for years. For post-independence stamps with one country name see KENYA, TANZANIA, and UGANDA.
The stamps are grouped by inscription:
A - British East Africa, inscribed KENYA & UGANDA
B - British East Africa, inscribed KENYA, UGANDA, and TANGANYIKA
C - British East Africa, inscribed TANGANYIKA
D - East African Community, inscribed KENYA, UGANDA and TANZANIA



GROUP A: Franks inscribed KENYA & UGANDA[edit | edit source]


A1. Neopost (FV), 1931. [$25]

Small frank with “KENYA & UGANDA” curved at top,
value figure in center with small “POST” at left and “PAID” at right.
With solid blocks in lower corners and “CENTS” between.
One meter known used by East African Power and Lighting Co.
TM: BIC
Values seen: 5, 10, 15, 20



A2. Neopost (LV-6), 1931.

Similar to Type A1 but with inner box with leaves surrounding value figure.
With “CENTS” at bottom center.
TM: BIC
A. With solid blocks in both lower corners [$10]
B. With “N” at lower left, solid block at lower right [$25]
C. With “N” at lower left and M# at lower right. M# N4 only [$35]
Values seen (with “c”): 10, 20c
Values seen (without “c”): 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 50, 1/-
a. Used during World War 2 without TM on air letter sheets and airgraphs. M# N4 only. Values seen: 25, 30 [$100]



A3. Neopost (LV-6). [$40]

As Type A2 but without “CENTS”, blank at bottom center.
A. With solid blocks in both lower corners
B. With “N” at lower left, solid block at lower right
TM: BIC
Values seen: 5, 10, 15, 20, 40, 50c, 1/-







GROUP B: Franks inscribed “KENYA, UGANDA and TANGANYIKA” [edit | edit source]

Sub-group BA: Inscription reads KENYA & UGANDA / TANGANYIKA[edit | edit source]





BA1. Neopost (LV-6).

Similar to Type A2 but with TANGANYIKA” curved below “KENYA & UGANDA”.
M# prefix “N” at lower left, “CENTS” at bottom center.
A. With solid block instead of M# at lower right [$25]
B. With M# at lower right
TM: BIC
Values seen: 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, 40, 50, 1.00, 1·25, 1.50, 2.00, 2.50






BA2. Neopost (LV-6). [$50]

As Type BA1 but with “CENTS” removed.
M# with prefix “N” at lower left and solid block at lower right.
TM: BIC
Values seen (with “c”): 10, 20







Sub-group BB: Inscription reads KENYA UGANDA / AND / TANGANYIKA[edit | edit source]




BB1. Universal “MultiValue” (MV).

Large frank.
M# with “U” prefix in small boxes in lower corners.
A. Frank 26 mm wide (U18-22) [$10]
B. Frank 31 mm wide
C. TM lowered with 4-digit S# above. Post Office stamp used for registered mail. M# U78 only [$25]
TM: DC
V/F: 0oo (O) oo (O,A) 00oo (O) 0oo (A,O)





BB2. Universal “MultiValue” (MV). [$5]

As Type BB1 but without crown, blank at bottom center.
M# with “U” prefix.
A. Frank 26 mm wide (U18-22) [not yet seen but presumed to exist]
B. Frank 31 mm wide
C. TM lowered with 4-digit S# above. Post Office stamp used for registered mail. M# U78 only
TM: DC
V/F: 0oo (O) 00oo (O) 0oo (A)





BB3. Neopost "Frankmaster" / "305" (MV). [$5]

Similar to Type BB1A but M# with “N” prefix, both unboxed.
With crown over “EiiR” at bottom center.
TM: DC
V/F: 0.00 00.00 =0/00




BB4. Neopost "Frankmaster" / "305" (MV). [$10]

As Type BB3 but blank at bottom center, without crown over “EiiR”.
M# with “N” prefix.
TM: DC
V/F: 00.00







Sub-group BC: Inscription reads KENYA UGANDA / & TANGANYIKA[edit | edit source]



BC1. Universal “Simplex” (LV-25). [$5]
Three vertical lines at each side.
M# with “S” prefix in small boxes in lower corners.
“CENTS” over crown at bottom center.
Wide spacing between TM and frank.
TM: DC
Values: 10 through 250


BC2. Universal “Simplex” (LV-25). [$10]
As Type BC1 but without crown.
“CENTS” alone at bottom center.
M# with “S” prefix.
TM: DC
Values: 10 through 250





Sub-group BD: Inscription reads KENYA UGANDA / TANGANYIKA[edit | edit source]



BD1. Neopost “105” (LV). [$25]

As Type BA1 but without “&” in the country name.
M# with “N” prefix.
TM: BIC
Value seen: 5c, 30c, 50c




BD2. Neopost "Frankmaster" / "305" (MV). [$10]

Similar to Type BB3 but without “AND” in the country name.
M# with “N” prefix.
TM: DC
V/F: 00.00





BD3. Neopost "Frankmaster" / "305" (MV). [$10]

As Type BD2 but with crown/”EiiR” removed” from bottom.
M# with “N” prefix, N556 and N571 known.
TM: DC
V/F: 00.00




BD4. Universal “Simplex” (LV-25). [$15]

As Type BC1 but without “&” in the country name.
M# with “S” prefix.
“CENTS” over crown at bottom center.
Wide spacing between TM and frank.
TM: DC
Values: 10 through 250



BD5. Universal “Simplex” (LV-25). [$15]

As Type BD4 but with crown removed; “CENTS” alone at bottom center.
M# with “S” prefix.
TM: DC
Values: 10 through 250




BD6. Universal “Simplex” (LV-25). [$15]

As Type BD5 but with “POSTAGE/ PAID” below “CENTS” at bottom.
M# with “S” prefix.
TM: DC
Values: 10 through 250




BD7. Neopost (LV-6). [$25]

Similar to Type BD6 but slightly smaller frank with different inscription at bottom.
Small “SH CTS” above “POSTAGE/ PAID” at bottom.
Meter number with "N" prefix.
Two meters reported, N357 and N379.
TM: BIC
Values seen: 15, 30, 1.00



BD8. Neopost "Frankmaster" / "305" (MV). [$5]

As BD7 but the frank is much larger.
M# prefix “N” in small box at lower left, M# between horizontal lines at lower right.
Spacing between the town mark and frank varies. (See note)
TM: DC
V/F: 00.00

NOTE: This meter model possibly prints the town mark closer to the frank when printing on tape than on envelope.




BD9. Universal “Automax” (MV). [$5]

Similar to Type BD8 but with “SH CTS” above crown at bottom center.
M# with “A” prefix in small boxes in lower corners.
TM: DC
V/F: =0.oo




BD10. Universal/Pitney Bowes-GB “Automax” (MV).

As Type BD9 but with crown removed, blank at bottom center.
TM: DC
A. M# with “A” prefix [$10]
B. M with “PB” prefix [$20]
V/F: =0.oo
a. Completely blank at bottom, with "SH" and "CTS" also removed (A17)




BD11. Pitney Bowes-GB “Automax” (MV). [$10]

As Type BD10B but with “POSTAGE/ PAID” centered at bottom.
M# with “PB” prefix.
TM: DC
V/F: =0.oo







GROUP C: Franks inscribed “TANGANYIKA” [edit | edit source]


C1. Neopost (LV-6). [$50]

As Type BD3 but with “TANGANYIKA” alone at top.
M# N291 seen.
TM: BIC
Values seen: 15, 20, 30






C2. Neopost "Frankmaster" / "305" (MV). [$25]

As Type BD2 but with “TANGANYIKA” alone at top and “POST/ PAID” at bottom center.
M#s N577, N578, N615, N630 and N671 known.
Spacing variable between TM and frank.
TM: DC
V/F: 00.00







GROUP D: Franks inscribed “KENYA, UGANDA and TANZANIA” [edit | edit source]

Sub-group DA: Inscription reads KENYA UGANDA / TANZANIA[edit | edit source]



DA1. Neopost “205” (MV). [$25]

Small frank with three vertical lines at the sides.
M# prefix “NE” boxed at lower left, M# unboxed at lower right.
Date figures tall.
TM: BIC
V/F: 0.00



DA2. Neopost "Frankmaster" / "305" (MV). [$25]

As Type DA1 but taller frank.
M# prefix “N” boxed at lower left, M# between horizontal lines at lower right.
Date figures short.
TM: DC
V/F: 00.00









Sub-group DB: Inscription reads TANZANIA / UGANDA KENYA[edit | edit source]



DB1. Neopost “205” (MV). [$5]

As Type DA1 but with revised inscription.
M# prefix “NE” boxed at lower left, M# unboxed at lower right.
Date figures tall.
TM: BIC
V/F: 0.00
a. Date only without TM




DB2. Neopost (LV-6). [$20]

Similar to Type DB1 but narrower, M# with “N” prefix.
TM: BIC
Values seen: 10, 15, 20, 30, 50, 1.00, 1.25





DB3. Neopost "Frankmaster" / "305" (MV).

As Type BD2 but with revised inscription and with “POSTAGE/ PAID” at bottom center.
M# with “N” prefix boxed at lower left.
A. M# between horizontal lines
B. M# without horizontal lines
TM: DC
V/F: 0.00 00.00
a. Frank inverted, value figures upright. M# N647 [$35]
b. V/F: =0/00 (N211 only, probably an assembly error)
c. Printed in blue (N526)



DB4. Universal “MultiValue” (MV). [$5]

As Type BB2 but with revised inscription.
Blank at bottom center, M# with “U” prefix.
TM: DC
V/F: 0oo 00oo 0oo
a. Without M#, with small block inside box at lower right [$10]




DB5. Universal “Simplex” (LV-25). [$5]

As Type BC2 but with revised inscription.
M# with “S” prefix.
TM: DC
Values: 10 to 250



DB6. Universal/Pitney Bowes-GB “Automax” (MV).

As Type BD7 but with revised inscription.
A. M# with “A” prefix [$10]
B. M# with “PB” prefix
TM: DC
V/F: =0.oo




DB7. Roneo Neopost “405/505” (MV). [$20]

Wide frank with M# prefix “RV” boxed at lower left, M# unboxed at lower right.
TM: BIC
V/F: 00.00




DB8. Pitney Bowes-GB “5000” (MV). [$15]

Wide frank with “POSTAGE” and “PAID” vertical in panels at sides.
Date figures raised in relation to value figures.
M# with “P.B.” prefix low between TM and frank.
TM: DC
V/F: 0.00



DB9. Pitney Bowes “6300” (MV). [$20]

Similar to Type DB8 but with three vertical lines at sides.
Date and value figures at same level.
M# with “PB” prefix in lower corners.
Frank straight along bottom.
TM: DC
V/F: 0.00








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